.0.2 Notation and units
quantity unit symbol
distance meter, m x, ∆x
time second, s t, ∆t
mass kilogram, kg m
density kg/m^3 ρ
force newton, 1 N=1 kg·m/s^2 F
velocity m/s v
acceleration m/s^2 a
gravitational field J/kg·m or m/s^2 g
energy joule, J E(also electric field)
momentum kg·m/s p
angular momentum kg·m^2 /s or J·s L(also inductance)
power watt, 1 W = 1 J/s P(also pressure)
pressure 1 Pa=1 N/m^2 P(also power)
temperature K T (also period)
period s T (also temperature)
wavelength m λ
frequency s−^1 or Hz f
charge coulomb, C q
voltage volt, 1 V = 1 J/C V
current ampere, 1 A = 1 C/s I
resistance ohm, 1 Ω = 1 V/A R
capacitance farad, 1 F = 1 C/V C
inductance henry, 1 H = 1 V·s/A L(also angular momentum)
electric field V/m or N/C E(also energy)
magnetic field tesla, 1 T = 1 N·s/C·m B
focal length m f
magnification unitless M
index of refraction unitless n
electron wavefunction m−^3 /^2 Ψ.0.3 Fundamental constants
gravitational constant G= 6.67× 10 −^11 J·m/kg^2
Boltzmann constant k= 1.38× 10 −^23 J/K
Coulomb constant k= 8.99× 109 J·m/C^2 or N·m^2 /C^2
quantum of charge e= 1.60× 10 −^19 C
speed of light c= 3.00× 108 m/s
Planck’s constant h= 6.63× 10 −^34 J·sNote the use of the same notation, k, for both the Boltzmann constant and the Coulomb
constant.